Diary entries
December 16 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the same program as given in Kyiv on January 20 1917, and in Moscow on October 24 1916, as is copied above. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that she could not find a complete program, but that the concert included Preludes from op. 23 and op. 32, and some Etudes-Tableaux. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes an all-Rachmaninoff program at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 7 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 2nd Symphony Concert of the season of the Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre. While Satina does not give the name of the theatre, Martyn states that it was the Bolshoi (p. 521). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 9 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The reference to ‘Fifteen Etudes-Tableaux’ is of interest. Two of the Etudes-Tableaux from op. 39 are dated from February 1917 on their manuscripts, yet nine from this set (including the held-over no. 6 in A minor, originally planned for the op. 33 set) plus the published 6 from the op. 33 set could represent this total number of Etudes-Tableaux. Alternatively, one or two Etudes-Tableaux from op. 33, which were published only posthumously – in C minor and D minor – might have been included, although this perhaps seems less likely. Apetian also noted the same number of Etudes-Tableaux in this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes an all-Rachmaninoff program at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 19 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes an all-Rachmaninoff program at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
20 January 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina includes a photocopy of the program among her notes. The concert, which commenced at 8.30pm, was in the 'кипеческаго заль' (Kypecheskago Hall). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that an audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal for this concert the previous day, January 22, for a small fee. This was the 6th Symphony Concert in Koussevitzky’s season. It is not known what was played in the second half of the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 26 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 6th Concert of the season of the Rostov Branch of Russian Music Society. Satina also indicates that the program included some earlier compositions, including the Polichinelle, op, 3, no. 4, but that the order the pieces were played in is unknown. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 28 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 29 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program, also that it was an afternoon concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 31 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 8th and last Symphony Concert in Koussevitzky’s season. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall is now situated. It is likely that an audience was allowed to attend the dress rehearsal the previous day, February 5, for a small fee, as was also noted by Apetian. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 21 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes Apetian’s claim that Rachmaninoff added one more Etude-Tableau, op. 33, to the program, and that only 4 Preludes were played, citing p. 472-473. While this is the first programmatic reference to the complete set of 'nine' Etudes-Tableaux, op. 39, with many programs over the previous month unknown it cannot be ascertained when the complete set was first performed. Satina indicates that 50% of the proceeds from the concert were given ‘to the Russian Musician Fund to help the needy Composers and their families’. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 25 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 26 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that ‘50% of the money received will be given to the All-Russia Union of Cities, to help the sick and wounded soldiers’. Satina also indicates that the performance took place at the ‘Zimin Opera House’, which might be a reference to the Nikitsky Theatre. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 13 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the First Extra Symphony Concert in the season of Sergei Koussevitzky. An audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal before the concerto, on March 12, for a small fee, as Apetian also notes. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall now stands. The ‘February’ Revolution is underway at the time of this concert. Keldysh (p. 409) notes that Rachmaninoff donated his fee from this concert to 'the Union of Artist-Warriors for gifts to the army', citing a letter Rachmaninoff wrote which appeared in Russkiye Vedomosti on March 15: "Свой гонорар от первого выступления в стране, отныне свободной, на нужды армии свободной при сем прилагает свободный художник С. Рахманинов" [The free artist S. Rachmaninoff hereby donates his fee from his first performance in the country, now free, to the needs of the free army]. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 20 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the Second Extra Symphony Concert in the season of Sergei Koussevitzky. An audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal before the concerto, on March 19, for a small fee, as Apetian also notes. Keldysh (p. 409) quotes a review of the concert, which appears to indicate that Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody no. 12 was played as an encore. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall now stands. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the last appearance of Rachmaninoff in Moscow. Satina also notes that ‘all the proceeds will be given to the needs of the army. Orchestra seats at 4-12 roubles, boxes from 20-64 roubles. Balcony at 1.50’. Images of the program of this concert are included in Keldysh's Rachmaninoff and His Time, indicating that there were 15 minute intervals between the works. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
July 28 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Conductor
Notes: Marietta Shaginian records details of this concert in her recollection of Rachmaninoff (in 'Vospominania'). She notes that Rachmaninoff was not listed on posters for the concert, which occurred on the day of the 'Freedom Loan'. Koshetz at first sang with a different pianist, before Rachmaninoff appeared with her. It might be presumed that one or more songs from op. 38 were performed, given their concerts together the previous year. Shaginian further notes that Rachmaninoff conducted the Marseillaise in the second half of the concert. Boris Nikitin, in 'Two Lives' (p. 94), confirms these details, also noting that Rachmaninoff did not want to perform at the concert.
September 5 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the last appearance of Rachmaninoff in Russia. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 15 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: A review in the Nationaltidende on February 16 notes that Rachmaninoff played two of his own compositions as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 22 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 14 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 18 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 22 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.